Here's what to get the gardener in your life this holiday season

Let's get right down to the holiday gift column. I know I have to write one. I need to warn you, upfront, that only you know what the gardener in your life might want. Still, if you are really stuck on what your gardener might like, let me see if I can offer a few suggestions.

Let's start off with a stocking stuffer. The good folks who have been putting out GreenPrints Magazine for over 25 years, providing wit, humor and heart five times a year, now have a coloring book. Only this is not a dopey, mindless coloring book. It also comes with GreenPrints wit, wisdom and heart. It is titled "Great Garden Quotes," and if you have someone on your list who is into this new coloring fad, here you go.

By the way, GreenPrints Magazine is always on my Christmas Gift Suggestion list. It is a unique read just for gardeners. If your gardener likes to read beside a fire with a bowl of popcorn, get her a subscription. Heck, get both the coloring book and a subscription.

Next, the AeroGarden system, that kitchen unit designed to grow herbs, strawberries and even tomatoes is now being produced by Scotts Miracle Gro and it has been updated and spruced up, as it were. There are new lights and even different shapes, sizes and colors. You can find them at several locations around Anchorage, as well as on Amazon too.

There is a lot of talk about Scotts getting into the cannabis market. This may or may not be true, but in addition to growing herbs five times faster than outdoors in soil, these units made terrific starter units for seeds, and that includes cannabis. And, if your giftee is into such things, he or she can use an AeroGarden to root clones. Just saying.

If yours grows a lot of cabbage, how about a sauerkraut fermentation kit? There are lots out there. Many work in a basic Ball jar. I am sure you can find these locally, but if you don't know what I am talking about, check out Williams-Sonoma's. Google around. These are not limited to sauerkraut, either. Kimchi, anyone?

Mushroom kits make great holiday gifts. Really! I favor Paul Stamat's Fungi Perfecti. Check the site out yourself, but be careful. You will be tempted by the chocolates and the mushroom oils. Those are for you. Your gardener wants a few mushroom growing kits. Gardener's Supply has a nice crimini mushroom set.

I don't want to push my own forthcoming book (Teaming With Fungi), because it is out the day after Christmas and you would have to leave an envelop in a stocking, but I will push getting a good book on a subject you know interests your gardener giftee. Try the catalog of my publisher, Timber Press, which specializes in gardening books. So does Storey Publishing and St. Lynn's Press. If you can't find a gardening book here that works, your gardener can't read.

Consider the idea of giving yourself, as labor, to your gardener. A few hours in the garden weeding and plant is a big, big gift.

Finally, as always, a gift certificate from a favorite nursery will always be appreciated. In fact this might be the best gift to give of all. It helps the local economy. Your gardener gets what she wants and most have blanks to fill out or you can make arrangements and print something up on your computer. You might even get your way by tying some hidden strings like making the certificate for  "X dollars for new Lilacs" or "Y dollars for hanging baskets," (if you get my drift, but is that in the holiday spirit?).

At the start of the column I said I would provide a few suggestions of things your gardener might like. Notice, however, I said might "like," not might "need." Again, only you are able to discern that. Giving a gardener something they don't like and don't need is like giving that ugly tie or sweater. Surely you can put a few hints out there. May be even slide this column under his nose to start a conversation. She can always circle one of these suggestions or write something in the margins.

Jeff’s Alaska Garden Calendar

Bulbs: You can find narcissi bulbs for winter forcing at local nurseries.

Alaska Botanical Garden: Consider a membership for a family or friend. If you are already a member, consider a year-end donation.